The Newark Earthworks, a testament to a rich history, are located in present-day Newark and Heath, within Licking County, Ohio. This once sprawling 4-square-mile complex now has three preserved sections, inviting visitors to step back in time:
The Great Circle – Home to the Newark Earthworks Museum, this site features a remarkable circular earthwork. A tall, continuous earthen wall forms the circle, enclosing 30 acres. Intriguingly, a deep ditch lines the inside of this wall. The Museum sits atop a gentle rise, accessible via a paved pathway. However, there’s no paved path leading into the Great Circle’s interior, preserving its natural integrity.
Square brick building centered with a paved walkway in front
The Newark Earthworks Museum at the Great Circle site, offering insights into the Hopewell culture.
Address: 455 Hebron Road, Heath, OH 43056
The Wright Square – Positioned northeast of the Great Circle, Wright Square offers a glimpse into the past. This smaller portion of a square earthwork enclosure highlights the impact of development on ancient earthworks, a common story throughout Ohio and beyond.
Address: James Street, Newark, OH 43055
The Octagon – Situated above the Raccoon Creek floodplain, the Octagon is a combined earthwork marvel. It features a 20-acre circle and a larger 50-acre octagon, seamlessly connected by a small passageway. Since January 1, 2025, the Octagon is fully open to the public, inviting exploration of its fascinating geometry. Visitor Center hours are anticipated to be announced soon.
Address: 125 N 33rd Street, Newark, OH 43055
The Newark Earthworks Museum, located at the Great Circle, enhances the visitor experience with a bookstore and interpretive center. Current operating hours are Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, from 10 am to 4 pm.
Earthen walls forming a passageway connecting earthwork enclosures.
The passageway linking the Octagon and Observatory Circle at the Newark Earthworks, showcasing the intricate design.
For those visiting with canine companions, dogs are welcome at all Newark Earthworks sites. Kindly keep dogs leashed and utilize the provided waste bags to maintain the grounds for everyone’s enjoyment and preservation.
While exploring the earthworks, visitors are asked to respect their ancient nature by refraining from climbing on the walls. Preserving these monumental structures for future generations, even 2,000 years from now, depends on minimizing foot traffic and potential damage.
Guided Tours
Enhance your visit to the Octagon Earthworks with free guided tours, available Wednesday through Sunday, starting at Noon.
On the first Friday of each month, from April through November, join archaeologist Brad Lepper for a complimentary tour departing at 12:30 pm from the Great Circle Museum.
Regular guided tours of the Great Circle are offered from March through November, every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 2:00 pm. These tours provide a 45-minute walk through the Great Circle, offering deeper insights into its construction and significance.
Tour Admission Costs:
- $10 per person (ages 12 and up)
- $7 for seniors (65+)
- $5 for children (ages 5-12)
- Free for children under 5
Ohio History Connection Members receive discounted tour admission.
No advance registration is needed for regularly scheduled tours. Visitors can purchase tour tickets at the front desk of the Great Circle Museum before the tour begins. All tours start on the museum’s front patio.
Tours proceed regardless of weather conditions, so visitors are advised to check the forecast and dress appropriately. Please note that paved walkways do not extend into the earthwork areas.
To arrange a group tour outside of the standard schedule, please contact the site manager via email at [email protected] or by phone at 740-344-0498.
A large group of school children gathered at the entrance into the Great Circle Earthwork.
School children on a field trip at the Great Circle Earthworks, engaging with Ohio’s ancient history.
Educational Field Trips
Plan an enriching field trip to the Newark Earthworks by contacting the site manager at least four weeks in advance. A minimum of 3 hours is recommended for field trips to fully experience the site. The program includes a guided tour and three interactive activities focused on earthwork planning and construction, as well as the history and culture of the Middle Woodland Period in Ohio. Activities are designed to align with 4th-grade Ohio Social Studies standards but can be adapted for elementary through high school levels. The field trip admission fee, covering guided activities, is $5 per student. Teachers and chaperones are admitted free of charge. Picnic facilities are available for packed lunches and snacks.
Picnics and Gatherings
Shelter houses at the Great Circle offer pleasant spaces for picnics and gatherings. These spaces are available on a first-come, first-served basis, as reservations are not accepted. The site manager may occasionally reserve these areas for site-related events.
Portable restrooms are conveniently located near the shelter houses from mid-April to early September, accessible to visitors daily.
A Journey Through History
The Newark Earthworks are a significant part of the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks, constructed by American Indians approximately 2,000 years ago. This complex stands as the largest of its kind, featuring geometric shapes interconnected by earthen walls, all built meticulously by hand, basketful by basketful. It is estimated that around 7 million cubic yards (21 million baskets) of earth were used to create the Newark Earthworks, which once covered over four square miles of present-day Newark, Ohio. This site served as a gathering place for diverse American Indian groups from across North America, fostering spiritual practices, celebrations, and connections.
Squier and Davis 1848 map showing the full extent of the Newark Earthwork complex.
An 1848 map illustrating the extensive Newark Earthworks complex, originally published in “Ancient Monuments of the Mississippi Valley.”
The Octagon section of the Newark Earthworks highlights the profound planning and astronomical knowledge embedded within Hopewell earthwork construction. Aligned with the lunar cycle, every 18.6 years, the moonrise is perfectly framed through the passageway connecting the Observatory Circle and the Octagon. Every aspect of these earthworks reflects intentional design and meticulous care, a tribute to the ingenuity, collaboration, and spiritual devotion of the American Indian peoples who created them millennia ago.
These Ohio earthwork sites were sacred not only to local American Indians but also to groups from distant regions. Exotic materials traveled over 1800 miles to these sites. Obsidian from the Rocky Mountains, lightening whelk shells and shark teeth from the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean, mica from the Blue Ridge Mountains, and copper from Michigan’s Upper Peninsula were brought to the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks. These materials were transformed into ceremonial objects and ritually placed within the earthworks.
Despite significant loss to agriculture and development, the Octagon and Great Circle portions of the Newark Earthworks remain preserved, thanks to the foresight of Licking County citizens. They continue to serve as places for community gathering and celebration, though perhaps in ways different from their original purpose. These sites hold deep significance for American Indian peoples, descendants of those who built these earthen walls and lived, worked, and celebrated on the land now known as Ohio for countless generations. Local communities also cherish the earthworks as former county fairgrounds and a place for family reunions.
earthen wall dotted with large trees.
The exterior wall of the Great Circle Earthwork, a lasting monument to the Hopewell culture.
UNESCO World Heritage Site
In September 2023, the Newark Earthworks, along with six other Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks, achieved UNESCO World Heritage status. These sites, including Fort Ancient and five sites within Hopewell Culture National Historical Park, are recognized as masterpieces of human creative genius and enduring legacies of a culture that profoundly shaped the landscape. Explore more about these remarkable sites on the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks webpage and delve into the details of the UNESCO inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage webpage.
Volunteer Opportunities
Become part of preserving the Newark Earthworks and sharing the compelling story of this significant site! Volunteer opportunities are available in site maintenance, educational programs, interpretive programs, and more. Learn more about volunteering with the Ohio History Connection for further details.
Stay informed about updates and upcoming events by visiting this webpage regularly or checking the Facebook Page.
